Surprising Stephanie

It has been very challenging these past few weeks keeping Stephanie's birthday dinner a surprise. Knowing that we were preparing to go out of town, Stephanie had assumed her birthday would just be brushed under the rug - as most adult birthdays do.

This morning was the start of her special day. Our two families met up at Bradley Park for a playdate/picnic. The kids had so much fun running around the playground and riding scooters.

We took a walk around the lake, but sadly Jordan had a terrible crash half way around. After several attempts to soothe his poor little wounds, it became clear that he needed to get home. So off Stephanie went to care for her little guy, apologizing that she wasn't able to stay for lunch. As my kids and I sat there eating our picnic lunch (on the Happy Birthday plates we had packed for Stephanie) I became all the more thankful for our friendship. These are those "real moments" that we get to share together. Those moments that don't go exactly as planned, but bind our hearts because they are the moments we shared together. Instead of singing Happy Birthday to her, the kids and I prayed for her and for her family. It was really neat.

Fortunately, that wasn't all the day was scheduled to hold. Several of her closest friends & I were able to surprise her at Olive Garden for a birthday dinner. She was completely surprised and slightly overwhelmed. It was so refreshing to get to hang out together and just be friends...not focusing on being Mommy's or anything else, just friends. What a blessing she has been in my life and what a joy to be a part of her big night. Happy Birthday Stephanie!